An eviction lockout in Florida is a specific legal event with specific requirements. It follows a court process that ends with a writ of possession, a sheriff’s execution of that writ, and a locksmith changing the hardware. If you’re a landlord or property manager who has been through the process, you know the logistics are often more complicated than the legal proceeding. This guide covers what actually happens on lockout day, what hardware needs to change, and how to schedule a locksmith around sheriff dispatch.
Important: this guide describes the process from a locksmith’s operational perspective. It is not legal advice. The Florida eviction process involves court filings, proper notice, and sheriff execution that are governed by Florida Statute Chapter 83. Work with a Florida licensed attorney on the legal components.
The process leading up to lockout day
Florida residential evictions follow a defined sequence: notice to tenant (3-day pay-or-quit or 7-day for lease violations), filing in county court if the tenant doesn’t comply, default judgment or hearing, writ of possession issued by the clerk, and finally execution by the sheriff. From the time a final judgment is entered, the sheriff’s office typically has 24 hours to post the writ and then executes the lockout 24 hours after posting. In practice, scheduling varies by county — Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach all have different execution timelines and scheduling systems.
Call the sheriff’s civil unit in your county to get the actual execution date and time window before you schedule the locksmith. Locksmiths cannot be present before the sheriff executes the writ. Scheduling us for the same window — or immediately after — is the right move.
Who must be present on lockout day
The standard Florida execution requires:
- The sheriff (or deputy). The writ is a court order; it’s executed by law enforcement. The deputy will post the writ, supervise the removal of the tenant if they’re present, and authorize the landlord to take possession.
- The landlord or landlord’s authorized agent. You or your property manager must be on-site. The sheriff won’t execute the lockout and leave property unsecured — someone with authority needs to take possession immediately.
- The locksmith. Ideally on-site at the same time as the sheriff, so that the moment the deputy authorizes possession, the locks can be changed immediately. A property left with original hardware between the sheriff’s departure and the locksmith’s arrival is a vulnerability.
What hardware changes are required
Florida law (F.S. 83.62) authorizes the landlord to change the locks and exclude the former tenant once the sheriff executes the writ. “Change the locks” in practice means:
- Rekey or replace all keyed entry cylinders. Every exterior door with a keyed lock — front door, back door, side entry, interior garage door — needs to be rekeyed or the cylinder replaced. The former tenant’s key must no longer work. This is not optional.
- Garage codes reset. If the property has a garage door opener system with a code keypad, change the code. If the former tenant has a remote programmed to the opener, clear all remotes and reprogram.
- Mailbox key (if keyed separately). In properties where the mailbox has an individual tenant key separate from the unit key, that lock should be rekeyed as well.
- Any keypad or smart lock codes reset. If the property uses a smart lock or keypad lock (increasingly common in South Florida rentals), all codes should be cleared and the master access code changed immediately. Delete any virtual keys issued to the former tenant if the lock supports app-based access.
- Pool and amenity access hardware (if keyed per unit). Some properties have keyed amenity access. If so, that key should stop working.
Documentation: what to record on lockout day
Landlords who have been through a disputed eviction know that documentation on lockout day protects against subsequent legal challenges. Standard practice:
- Photograph the condition of the property at entry, before anything is moved or changed.
- Record the time the sheriff arrived, the time possession was handed to the landlord, and the time the locks were changed.
- Get a written record from the locksmith of what was changed, including any serial numbers on new hardware if applicable.
- Document any property left by the tenant (Florida law has specific requirements about how abandoned property must be handled — consult your attorney on this).
Tim Mobile Locksmith provides a written service record for every eviction lockout. We note what was rekeyed or replaced, on what date, and at what address. Keep this with your eviction file.
Scheduling around sheriff dispatch
The practical challenge of eviction lockout scheduling is that sheriff execution times in South Florida are not always precise. The sheriff’s civil unit will give you a date and a time window (often a 2 to 4 hour window). Call us when you have that window confirmed. We schedule eviction lockouts as a priority and can be on-site at the time the sheriff arrives or within 30 minutes of the execution, depending on the county and your location.
If you manage multiple properties and handle evictions regularly, call (754) 295-0228 to set up a working relationship. We can keep your preferred hardware on hand, turn around same-day or next-morning service for scheduled writs, and provide COI documentation for property management companies that require it.
A note on commercial evictions
Commercial evictions follow a different statutory process (F.S. 83.20 et seq.) and typically involve different hardware — commercial-grade entry locks, panic bars, electronic access systems, and master key systems. If you’re executing a commercial eviction and need a locksmith for the hardware change, call us separately from the residential process. The access control complexity on a commercial space often requires an on-site assessment before the work can be fully scoped.
Need a locksmith now? Call (754) 295-0228 any time, day or night. We dispatch from Hallandale Beach and serve Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties — 24/7.
Related reading: All FAQ & articles · Residential services · Commercial services · Car locksmith services